35: I was in a poker game….

All material is copyrighted and may not be used without written permission.

by Berigan

JONESBORO, GA – Big news everyone! I was in a poker game with the head of Liberty Media – whoever that is. And guess what???? He was out of money, so put the deed to the team on the table. He’s not a very good card player apparently, since I am now the owner of your Atlanta Braves!!!!!! 😆

There are big changes ahead:

1. Going to bring back the shorts the White Sox wore back in the late 70’s. Should make the players more angry and focused. I told them if they get in the playoffs, no more shorts! Win the WS and no more pink uniforms either!

2. I will be the 2nd lefty out of the bullpen. (Sorry, Ohman, but people didn’t laugh earlier when I said Oh man, Will – so out ya go!) I can give up a lot of walks just like the rest of the pen. Plus, I have a pretty good curve. At least I used to. I am sure I still do. We will soon find out!

3. No ticket will be above $10!!! We will sell out every single game since a family of 5 will be able to once again come to a game without having to get a loan or selling a kidney. Plus, no one will boo me if I have an off night on the mound!

4. Hot dogs and beer will only be $2 each! There will only be 400% profit on these staples of the ballpark, but I think we will be able to get by.

5. Plastic tubes will be attached under each seat, so men can relieve themselves without having to get up from their chairs! No more missing home runs because of a full bladder! (Women have bigger bladders then men and can wait ’til after the game.) Of course, there will be a modesty curtain you can bring up if one so desires.

6. Chief Nakahoma is back!

7. Half of all home games will be day games! (Don’t care what MLB has to say about this, it’s my team!) Too many kids can’t stay up late to watch games the games as it is. Plus, kids today have never experienced the pure joy of skipping school to see a baseball game!

8. Ted Simmons is the new GM! (Didn’t think I wouldn’t mention him at least once, did ya?) Sure, Frank Wren has done a good job, but Simmons was the GM of the Pirates in the early 90’s. Wren can do all the heavy lifting, but Simmons gets the title, and the chance to cut ribbons for new bridges and new Methadone clinics.

9. ESPN won’t be able to broadcast Braves games if Jon Miller and Clueless Joe are the broadcasters! (My team, my rules!)

10. No extra inning games at the Ted Berigan that end in the 12th inning! Unless we have the lead of course.

And finally….

11. Free season tickets too all members of the B&S blog!!! Even for the foreigners who live outside of Georgia.

But, that’s only the starting point! What changes do you all want to see?? The voice of Harry Carey singing “Take me out to the Ball Game” during the 7th inning stretch? (Skip or Chip can dub in ‘go Braves’ over ‘go Cubbies’) Black grass??? Disco demolition night??? AC for the bleachers?? You name it, it WILL happen!

Thanks CL, and WW! And good to see you back! Was wondering where you might be since you weren’t blogging during or after the games. Now, where’s Hillbilly??? SOR(Scribe of Reason!) right again! FLB, glad someone noticed my early AM post about you, me, Grinch and CL all getting hitched! 😛

Now, I must be off to figure out how to make this team more profitable, and eat Chick-fil-A Berigan <—-still a man of the people. 😕

“Hitched?” Hitched to what? If you’re referring to that most unfortunate of institutions known as marriage which exists essentially for a woman to keep a man from sleeping with anyone (including her) for a set amount of time until her lawyer gives her the green light to take all the man’s stuff, boot him out in the street and make him work the rest of his life to pay her and her new boyfriend’s bills…NOT THIS GRINCH. I’m afraid you have me confused with some dipstick who’s been watching too much “Leave it to Beaver” and not enough of everyone around him instead. I’m rather fond of my “stuff” and my right to do as I please. Loose women are a dime a dozen; one just has to be careful not to fall into a trap. Thus endeth today’s lesson. 🙂

Berigan, I’m with you on the cheap beer and hot dogs. KC’s sweet tea drinkin’ behind took me the other night to the only sports bar in Atlanta with a broken tap; I wound up dropping $180 on Heineken bottles, Kamikazes and Patron shots. Scribe, you’re guilty too.

Just as one wag said about golf, “a good walk misused”: a kamikazee is vodka misused. And have you hear Grinch’s pickup line? “If yer are going to be bothered by this in the morning, we kin sleep ’til afternoon.”

scribe, reposting this from the last blog – want to be sure you see it! 🙂Carolina Lady Says: April 1, 2008 at 3:55 pm edit

Hi, Scribe! No problem whatsoever; I just wanted you to know that you have an honored place on our Blog Roll. The link was most relevant so no apologies in order anywhere. ‘Scribe’ and ’self-promotion’ never belong in the same sentence. 🙂

Did y’all see where A-Rod makes more than the entire Marlin’s roster? Yeah, I know! Somebody will say that his is better than the Marlin’s roster. But, they will play a season and win a bunch of games and this ridiculous inequity is a large part of what is wrong with this game!

OK, it is another of those “don’t anyone talk to the old frat and after he goes to bed, we will chat like a bunch of magpies.” Very well. But, as I said last night, dealing with that realization(that y’all don’t want to talk to me)will probably require me 2 or 3 minutes to get to sleep. C yah soookers!

Grinch, gotta start dating older woman, or 18 year olds. Those college age girls don’t seem to be agreeing wit ya!
$180 on Alcohol???? 😯 Were you buying for the whole group??? Man, if that was for you alone….You need to bring beer into the bars you visit!

WW, thanks for the eye candy. Don’t remember seeing too many like them at the old Busch stadium….Then again, in the late 70’s/early 80’s, there were about the same number of fannies in seats as Fulton Co. Stadium had in the same time period.

If you check out the top post on http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ you will see a story on Marcus Giles, and how he almost became a Dodger…but changed his mind since he was going to have to learn 3rd base!!! Guess he’s tired of playing in the Majors! 🙄

Berigan, please accept my apologies for not complimenting you earlier on the very fine lead. Didn’t the owner of the Falcons lower ticket prices a few years ago? The laws of supply and demand are pretty basic. You’d think that someone else would take a look at it.

Gil, if Pedo heard a “pop”, then that may be a very serious injury.

WW, two things. First, thanks for the interesting read on Canseco. Pretty revealing stuff. I always knew he was a dirtbag.

Secondly, what have you done with your name. It’s all in blue now? Are you special since you’re starting your own business?

Nah; I’ve known him since the beginning of last season. I’ve seen games with him in person; the only guy out there not only head to toe in Mets gear but waving a Mets flag. Drank too many beers with him to have anything but respect for that kind of loyalty. Doesn’t mean I won’t take his money, though. 🙂

Grinch, I’ve blogged with him at his place a few times. He does seem like a decent guy, albeit a misguided one (for his love of the Mutts). I, for one, can’t stand fair weather fans and do respect those that ALWAYS follow their team, even in the bad times.

If you change your mind, let me know. I’ve been over there to rattle his cage a couple of times. Always respectful, of course, but it’s pretty easy to poke holes in his arguments.

Ah, nothing more I love than the sound of the Mets losing reverberating through my Sports Garage …

Andino CRUSHED that pitch, gang, straight up ripped that baby out to left and the Marlins poured out of the dugout as the crowd of 37 roared (seriously, I hope the new stadium gets people out to see baseball down there; covered a couple of games in dumpy Dolphin Stadium a couple of years ago … I’d rather watch baseball in a cesspool).

Now, Pedro (noted transition from the Scribe): Missed his injury when it happened but saw a couple of replays and yeah, it looks like he really was hurting. If he’s out for an extended period of time, the panic you saw break out across Braves Nation following our 0-2 start will pale in comparison to what sweeps across the legions of Mets Nation.

Now, Metroman (more transition): Indeed, I’ll vouch for him being a decent-enough fellow. I have nothing but respect for those who support their team. But his statements and assertions on the blog are crazy. As Chris said, so easy to break him down and take him apart with his nutty ramblings.

Berigan: Good lead, made me laugh out loud. Way to stick it to the powers that be. And SOR (Scribe of Reason) … hmmm, pretty cool.

CL: Saw your note before I left for T-ball practice (where I got to pitch BP; first time I’ve thrown BP to a team in years, and my arm is a bit sore, believe it or not). Thanks very much for that; just wanted to make sure you knew where I was a’comin’ from and that I wasn’t out of line.

Grinch: Yeah, I know the tap at Frankie’s was broken. Heck, they even ran out of sweet tea (forcing the Scribe to finish with water). It was great seeing ya the other night; lemme know when you wanna get to a game and we’ll make it happen, captain.

Time to surf, then sleep … if I can tear myself away from Extra Innings. I swear, me getting Extra Innings is like an addict being handed a six-month supply of crack rock.

Oh, I know, Chris – but that is such an awful picture. I really hope they get themselves together as a TEAM and reverse the trend. I think I saw that happening in the Pirates game last night. I could see Chipper’s determination kick in, then Tex – and it seemed as if the rest picked up their pace. Or was that wishful thinking?? 🙂

I hope so, too. Somebody earlier mentioned that travel schedule and I know first-hand what that can do to you. I haven’t had time to check their schedule for the next week, but I hope it’s better than it began! 🙂

Wonder why so many errors??? Usually, the older a team gets, the less errors….Frenchy’s arm was off, Chipper and Yunel throwing was off, Tex was backhanding balling like it was his first game at 1st….I had a thought… part of the reason… could it be playing games that mattered, in March???

Gil…Yep! Get the feeling Pirates are practicing more than us….being in last place naturally should make you want to be better. So should finishing in 3rd…
We should do whatever the Rockies do, to have as good a fielding team as they do…no excuse for not being as good as the best in the league.

Dodgers could/should be interesting. I honestly don’t know which of the 4 teams out west that have a chance, will win their division. In other words, we better win the Division, don’t think the Wild card will come out of the East…but who knows?

Gil, I have no idea how he does it…you’d think you would want someone to bounce thoughts off of! Or, who’s that guy, oh you know…those kinds of questions. Guess the producer could speak in his ear….Never worked with anyone after Drysdale died, right????

And isn’t Saito around 35??? Looking forward to baseball highlights on ESPN, but NCAA womens basketball has been on for about 5 minutes. I am forever running into folks talking about womens college basketball. 😕 Now talk about the new Indiana mens basketball coach…umm, it’s baseball season guys, this is big news, why???? 😡

And isn’t Saito around 35??? Looking forward to baseball highlights on ESPN, but NCAA womens basketball has been on for about 5 minutes. I am forever running into folks talking about womens college basketball. 😕 Now talk about the new Indiana mens basketball coach…umm, it’s baseball season guys, this is big news, why???? 😡

As for Japanese players, I wind up with the Cubs’ Fokudome on my fantasy team…never heard of him so I didn’t start him yesterday and started Johnny Damon instead. Yankees PPD, Fokudome goes 3 for 3 with a homer and four RBI. Add that on to me having to replace Josh Beckett and Kelvim Escobar with Jarod Weaver and Oliver Perez, and it makes one wonder if life isn’t stressful enough without this little game.

2 posts in the same minute. quite good Gil! Goodnight.
Grinch, I don’t think even women watch women’s basketball. Think ESPN is trying to make it something people are interested in??? Perhaps they have some money to make off of it, like Arena football…No one cares, so here are some highlights

Good morning folks… Lots of good baseball on last night. Too bad the Braves didn’t join in the party. Absolutely beautiful weather here today. Opening day for the Richmond club and little news in the local paper. I think it shall be a small party….

Gil, fill me in. Why were the Braves and Richmond unable to get together on a renewal of agreement? And from a “business” standpoint, wouldn’t it be preferable to have your AAA team “across town” than hundreds of miles away? I can see a lot of “up side” and very little “down”.

008… On the business end of it, I cannot fault the Braves in their move. The growing trend in baseball is moving your farm clubs closer to the major league city. Nor can I fault them for taking an offer they felt they could not refuse. The Braves have long held the belief that making money with the minor league clubs is a bonus. They have been one of the few franchises that was wholly owned their minor league club.

The problem with Richmond is a hydra headed monster. Separate local governments, all vying to be the Alpha dog with the mayor of Richmond thinking his poop does not stink playing games with the Braves. Now, that said, it appeared all was finally on track for the new stadium to finally be built when out of the blue, the Braves announced their move to Gwinnett.

I know, this is typical in today’s environment where a person’s word is worth little and it’s all about who wins and who loses and not about thing like integrity and honor. Terms that have become completely foreign in America when it comes to business. It is a lot more about “let the buyer beware”.

I realize it means little to anyone outside of our community but the folks in Gwinnett are blowing smoke when they tell their constituents that a AAA club is going to mean good paying jobs. That is of course except for the contractor who builds the stadium and the land developers.

Bottom line, it’s just a business and like all the companies that have moved offshore to improve their profit margin, the idea of loyalty and commitment have little to do with reality.

Gil; Thanks for the “fill-in”. I don’t doubt that there is a lot of “liar-liar, pants on fire” going on and the creating jobs is a crock. But, I am selfish and what is best for us fans, and the players, counts. For instance: Sending people like Borchard, Anderson and James(?) “down” would not require them to move their families, or be separated. It would be a lot easier on morale and ultimately would help the team, and us. Or, that’s the way I see it.

Gil; I see where your Gov has put executions on hold until the Supreme Court rules on the “humanest” of lethal injections. Personally, I think we should go back to hang, draw and quarter. I’m sure ww(due to his personal experience)could give us 50 pages on that.

You know, I have just one gripe with Berigan’s plans outlined in the lead. Why on earth does he think women have bigger bladders & can wait ’til after the game? If you guys are using the tubes at your seats then some of the mens’ restrooms can be changed to womens’, cutting down on the inevitable lines. If I don’t have to wait in line (& I’m not a mile away from the restroom) I can be quick enough between innings to not miss an at-bat.

Actually, paladin, I have 2 small plastic plates, a small plastic knife, a small plastic spoon, a small plastic fork, and a small plastic cup spread out on my desktop from my daughter, who has “brought me breakfast” from her small plastic kitchen.

Actually Paladin, Tim Kaine is a very nice fellow but “and idiot” … I think caning would be a more effective means of deterrent to most crimes and a heck of a lot cheaper to deliver than continued incarceration. One thing for sure, not many repeat offended and the three strike you’re out could take on a whole new meaning.

I’m leaving, but not because I am squirming. I have a lunch meeting. And you are right, Raisins, it was difficult to “keep up” with both threads. However, we are “talking” and that’s what it’s about. C y’all later.

I may have graduated from a plastic kitchen to the real one quite some time ago but my dad still hugs me everyday & he’s still my knight in shining armor. Sounds like you’re that kind of dad too, VOR. Good job.

008… One final word on the Richmond Braves matter…. I have come to accept the inevitable and in fact, I truly hold no ill will towards the team per se. It is the attitude of the International League President thinking he can hold the city hostage that ticks me off. Don’t say they can do whatever they want with impunity while the area cannot actively seek a new team.

I just went over “across the street” and scrolled down and found out a couple of reasons it is so “quiet” on here. And I was worried about too much “non-baseball” talk from me until I saw that over half the talk over there was about “bands” that I never heard of. In the meantime, I am going down to the town square and talk to the statue of the Confederate soldier.

You know, I have just one gripe with Berigan’s plans outlined in the lead. Why on earth does he think women have bigger bladders & can wait ’til after the game? If you guys are using the tubes at your seats then some of the mens’ restrooms can be changed to womens’, cutting down on the inevitable lines. If I don’t have to wait in line (& I’m not a mile away from the restroom) I can be quick enough between innings to not miss an at-bat.

Well, perhaps my bladder is smaller than my Mom’s was, or the women I have dated(Shuddup Pallyboy, I know what you want to type! 😡 )
My Mom could sit thru a 3 hour movie without once getting up, and that was after drinking a large drink! Me, 45 minutes into an exciting film, bathroom run! I have always blamed the tension of a film me getting up once or twice in a theatre! 😳

You are right FLB, twice as many restrooms, so women will be able to get back sooner! It’s a win-win situation.

Jason Giambi also makes more than the Marlins @ $23 mill and Jeter is just under the Marlins’ payroll total @ $21 mill. But how many rings does Pay-Rod have compared to the FL franchise?

Bergian,
I LOVE the post today! I’m so glad you’ve taken over the Braves because I like the changes you’ve made.

Could you go ahead and make day/night double headers illegal and bring back the true DH?

Also, since you’re the new owner I expect to see you pushing eggs across Turner Field with your nose and racing ostriches pretty soon. Maybe even a short stint as manager would make you a true Braves owner.

I wouldn’t mind see all the games on TBS again if you don’t mind and if you could make the $2 rule apply to Coke and peanuts too I’d be gracious!

Well, Braves and Stuff folks we gotta kick some Bucco Booty tonight! Y’all ready! I missed bloggin’ with y’all on Monday since I was at the game but I did get a coupla pics up for ya. I’ll be there on Sunday when the Mets come to town so you out of towners may join me in spirit.

Have y’all seen the youtube video of the Russian tennis player hitting himself in the head with his racket and drawing blood? My kind of guy! When I was playing in prep school, metal rackets were just coming out. One of my teammates said, “My God, Hull will kill someone with the shrapnel!”

Looks like Jair took my advice and broke out the black glove for this game. I’m glad. That bleached out glove he had in spring training looked goofy. He’s got his hat pulled down low on his head. Looks like a bad man. He needs to pull those socks up though. I dig his little chain but it looks kind of hippie Islandish like he’s about to smoke a doobie while sipping a Corona and cupping a Brazilian woman’s bodacious booty. Not badass enough but that’s okay. He seems look a real cool fun loving kid. I’d rather he keep it real with himself than try to be someone he isn’t.

Matt Diaz makes the plays out there but he makes them look scary.

Jair is looking real good so far. No runs through 2 for Jair. Attaboy.

Paladin, have you thought of a dish???? Don’t believe the ads….if set up correctly, you rarely have interference issues. SOOOOO much better than cable, IMHO. Think Hampton will have trouble sleeping tonight???

Pete goes well with anyone. I like Pete the best when he works with a scrub like Lemke because you really get to see why Pete is so great. He’s such a generous partner to have in the booth. Lemke ain’t that good and Pete knows it but Pete tries to work with him and encourage him and throw him softballs so he can succeed. You can tell he makes Lemke comfortable. Skip would just run all over Lemke.

But I love Skip. I’m praying for the best for him. It sucks that he was going through all of that this winter and no one reported on it.

Prado with a triple in the first and now a walk in the third. Attaboy Prado. Now I know some of the and idiots over there are gonna fall in love with him and demand that KJ be benched in favor of Prado.

WW, I find that very interesting that you liked Sutton(More than most people as you said) I did to, never understood the white hot hatred towards him. But, I find Chip very funny, and think he has a far better voice than either his father or Grandfather had(Love(d) both of them in spite of that fact) I think people still see him as some 20 something dweeb who wouldn’t be in the business without his more famous father. Something I am sure Skip heard all the time when he was younger.

My Father was the guy they were talking about when they said, “He could charm birds out of the trees”. And write? Lord! All my life I have been trying to be in his league, with little result. But, I keep tryin’. If you can connect that to your conversation about Harry, Skip and Chip let me know, so I can do it too.

I liked Chip alot when he was doing Cubs games. Something about him seems so fake and forced to me when he is with the Braves. He and Joe don’t have any chemistry, especially compared to Joe and Boog. I just don’t think he has found a partner he can have chemistry with while with the Braves. Chip and Boog would probably be a great pairing. They’re both young and seem to have an interest in similar topics. I like Chip alot more during the pregame and postgame on the radio. He seems more real in that setting.

I gotta say Prado is looking real good so far. I love KJ though and don’t want to see him forced into a platoon or the DL. Perhaps 15 days on the DL for KJ wouldn’t be such a bad thing though. I’d rather KJ be healthy thank making errors and having his range cut down at second because of his knee

Evenin’, all! I like Joe and Boog as well. Likewise, really liked Sutton a lot…except when he’d start talking about the Hall of Fame…got a tad self-serving…although I know he was proud, deservedly so. Chip’s ok…Skip is fine, just didn’t like the attitude at times. Hope his health returns. Pete’s the best.

How about that? 7 pitch inning. 5 strikeouts, 6 groundouts through 5 innings. Can’t ask for more than that out of a kid this young. And the most important part, especially after CHuck James and all of the other guys last season: ONLY 68 PITCHES THROUGH 5 INNINGS. If everything goes right, we could get another 2 innings out of Jair

Interesting to hear folks talk about the broadcasters…Pete used to come into the Borders I worked at in Buckhead. He’d buy some newspaper, or magazine. I’d say, hello, he’d say in a disguised voice hello back…. while looking down at the counter. Clearly a man that wanted to talk baseball! 😆
Well, it must be tough and time any of the broadcasters are out in public….”Skip, love ya man, hey will you do me a favor and tell Andruw to not swing at low and away pitches? First time anyone has ever mentioned this to you , you say??? Hey, what’s that gesture mean????”

Berigan, I often wonder what it is like for guys like Skip and Pete and Larry Munson. On the one hand, it must be great to be beloved. But there just have to be so many days where they wanna say can I pump my gas, get a cup of coffee, buy the paper, and get a donut in peace?

uh…I mean hope he won’t duplicate another guys walk year…sheesh! I really don’t think he will….
I hope the Braves will keep Jurrjens pitch numbers down…we haven’t had a guy this young in the rotation since….when????

Yeah, I hope they don’t push Jair too much this year. Horam went from 15 innings to 90 innings to 180 innings within a three year span. He got hurt the next year in 2004. Was washed up last year and is now out of the game at 27 years old. Gotta be gentle with these fragile youngstas.

Darn, Jair got the groundall he needed. But his stuff was so nasty, he could only induce a weak grounder and get an out at first.

WW, the very few celebs I have seen in person, makes me not wanna be one! I remember seeing the beautiful Jayne Kennedy on a Delta flight many years ago. Just walked with a completely fixed gaze….straight ahead. And she wasn’t even a big time celeb! And like you said, when most everyone knows you, at least by voice, it must be tough.

Gil, I did…Bowa is a you know what. He wasn’t going to wear the batting helmet. Doesn’t want to stand in the box. Baby. He was a lousy manager as well, why does he still have a job???
He wouldn’t have started in this era either. He hit like a pitcher for many years. 17 rbi’s one year with the cubbies, in 391 AB’s!!!! I remember too well, being a big cub fan then….

I don’t like Tex. Find him soulless and lacking in personality. But I hope he hits the heck out of the ball this year and wins an MVP. The Braves need him to be that good. Has anyone ever heard the guy talk? We’ve got a so called superstar here who was a big tim local star in college and the man s rarely heard from. It’s probably because the only quotes and inside sources we ever get are from hoss and the bearded icon. Does anyone else on the team talk?

Wow, Jair fell apart here. The funny thing is that he didn’t get hit hard. None of the hits were really smoked. None went for homers or extra bases. Just a bunch of singles sandwiching a walk.

He’s out now. Cox went to the pen. Bennett in now. Man, he looks like a different man this season. So much more thin and fit

Yeah, there are days I run out to get a Subway sandwich or a pack of cigarettes and I look like a wreck. Sometimes, I think it must suck if you are a celebrity and you are doing that same thing and here come all the TMZ photogs chasing you down the block taking pictures of you while you look not only homely but homeless too.

Good job by Bennet inducing the DP.

THat was a really strong throw by that Bautista guy over at third to nail Frenchy.

What the hell? This is why the bullpen gets worn out by August. Jurrjens pitches good but only goes 5.3 innings. Bennett comes in and gets a double play? Does BObby leave him in? Nope. Let’s bring in yet another releiver. It will take 4 or 5 pitchers to win this thing. Inexcusable.

I read this morning that Bill James wishes that they would adopt a new rule where you can not replace a reliever until the reliever had actually given up a run. I like that idea. Would make the games go by much fastert

Acosta just shattered that bat. They’re sawing off alot of bats tonight. Wow, Frenchy galloped for that one like a horse

Agreed, WillyWally; Bennett should’ve pitched 2 more innings after that double play. It’s the whole freakin’ reason he’s here. However, Bobby came up with that idea and doesn’t remember it during game time…we’ll just have to let the talent overcome him once again. I think this year it might actually happen.

The starters look fine (fingers crossed for Hampton and Smoltz), but if they all have Chuck James syndrome innings wise and Bobby still won’t utilize the bullpen properly like any high school coach would, it might not matter. Unless the bats keep up this pace. Please understand, I think this team is so good it’ll take a collaboration of freak accidents, bad luck and managerial ineptitude to keep them from winning. We can and will get by with two out of three. 🙂

Top of the evening, denizens, on this, the first winning night of the 2008 season.

Great game by Jurrjens tonight. Pitched to contact, didn’t get flustered, worked the plate very well. I’m telling you, Jair looks like a guy who could be one of the anchors of the rotation for a long, long time.

I’ve watched him pitch three times now, and listened to two of his other starts. I LOVE his approach on the mound. He lets his fielders work behind him. He hits his spots. He looks like he knows what he’s doing out there, throwing the heater to set up the breaking ball, knows he has two sides of the plate with which to work, doesn’t get upset if he misses his spots. He’s a contact guy and he still struck out five, which shows me he has super good stuff.

Good night offensively, too, with the bulk of it coming late. Good to see Tex hit that homer, and not just the fact the ball went out of the ballpark, but the swing was perfect. And this just in: Yunel Escobar is going to be a star. Love his swing, the way he hits the ball, his defense.

Speaking of defense, Chipper played another heck of a game at the hot corner. The double play was huge; Bobby said on postgame it was the play of the game.

I’m a bit worried about the way we burned through the bullpen again, though, especially with Hampton pitching tomorrow (I don’t think you can ask for anything more than five innings), and no off days for the next week and a half. I would’ve sent Bennett back out there for the seventh, and I’d had Boyer in there in the ninth, not Ohman.

Gil, you sure about that? I believe you, of course, but I was under the impression that Kotsay led the AL in assists a couple of years ago and only didn’t the last year he was healthy because nobody ran on him. Thought that was his main strength.

Sorry, Grinch, I think you were under a pile of schoolwork then. My cousin, Bunny, was in a serious riding accident. She’s done barrel racing & quadrille team since she was a kid. She was doing a trick riding routine with her team when another rider collided with her & threw her from her horse. They think at least 2 horses trampled her. Her arm & leg were broken & a lot of her teeth were busted off. The orthopedic surgeon said her leg was the worst break he’d ever seen. It’s just bone fragments, pins & plates right now. She’s got a very long & painful recovery ahead of her.

Grinch… yes, Blanco has a heck of an arm. Last year I saw him throw a perfect strike to second base from the 402 foot mark at the center field wall at the Diamond. Not a one hopper either… A really strong and accurate throw. My only question was if he would be able to hit major league pitching but apparently he worked on that part of his game over the winter.

It was funny watching the Braves tonight and thinking how much the offense reminded me of the Richmond club last year before Yunel was called up to Atlanta. Come to think of it, the middle infielders were the same. Nice when your farm is contributing like that. Now if we can just come up with a first baseman.

I will not be surprised if Jair has some games in which he gets banged around this season as it is part of the growing process but I’ll bet you $10 to a donut that 29 other clubs will wish they had him by September. That kid has real poise and a very nice mound presence. Let’s pray that the Braves are not stupid and blow his arm out by having him pitch 200 innings while he is so young.

Gil Mornin’ everyone. 😕 Fell asleep for 2 hours. Not 2 solid hours mind you. Woke up from a simply wonderful nightmare, in which there were spider webs all over my bed…and down to my bed!!! 😯 And it was even nighttime in the dream, with just my closet light on! 😯 And I was getting more upset by the minute the dream, I was screaming like a girl. Well, a scared girl. Fun! 😡

But, I manned up, and slept one more hour! With a can of raid in one hand, and a teddy bear in the other. I’m sure the 4 year old down the street understands, and won’t miss it much.

Gil, a throw from 402 on the fly to home plate??? Wow!!! Guess he really should be the 4th guy….
I like the moves Wren has made as well Gil! I do wonder if Kotsay will hit though….I’m willing to give him a chance of course(Good thing, since I have no say in the matter!) but I wish we had given Anderson and Blanco a chance from the beginning.

Just watching baseball tonight I recorded. Fernando Vina was talking about an injury he suffered in 2003. Ruptured a tendon in the back of his leg…says there are 3 tendons that run from the knee up, and they removed that one!! Yikes!!! When they showed the highlights of the game, he praised Kelly Johnson on the turn he made a 2nd on the DP! 😛

Rico Washington drove in an insurance run with his first career hit after nearly 4,000 minor league at-bats in a four-run eighth.

“I had to stay positive and keep going at it and hoping that this day would come true for me,” Washington said. “It finally happened and I’ve just got to thank the Cardinals and thank everybody that gave me this chance and believing in me that I can play here.

ABINGDON, Va. (AP) – A student pilot whose two-seat Cessna 150 ran out of gas while he was floating through the skies made an emergency landing Wednesday on an interstate highway in western Virginia.

Matthew Edward Scott, 27, of Blountsville, Tenn., was on his way back to Abingdon’s Virginia Highlands Airport from Knoxville on his first solo flight when his engine sputtered and he had to quickly find a safe place to land.

He picked Interstate 81, and brought it down safely with the flow of traffic.

When I see stories like this the steam comes out my ears. He will probably be lauded for his “performance”. In the meantime, what was the fuel gauge trying to tell this brain-dead POS?! IF he is allowed to continue training he should have to go all the way back to ground school and when it comes time for his check ride it should be given by a fire-breathing dragon. Yes, I’m available.

Berigan; A Cessna 150 is about as complicated as your Lincoln. And part of pilot training is to keep track of how long you have been in the air and check that against the fuel gauge. If there is ANY doubt, you land at the first available field(and there are hundreds in that area). You DON’T try to make it back to your home field on the CHANCE that everything will be alright.

I was just wonderin’ P-Din. I had a 1964 Buick Electra that I bought in the mid 90’s Very nice shape, chrome still looked new…first night I got it, I drove it home to clean up, then looking for an excuse to drive my “new” car, I remembered the gauge was reading 1/4. So, went to fill up just in case it didn’t read correctly. Well…even though the previous owner didn’t mention it, if it got to a quarter tank, it was really on empty! 😯 Of course it was dark, and along a 2 lane road with ditches on each side! I was sure it would be hit when I got back to it, but it wasn’t…..Thank God! Never did get the gauge or the sending unit replaced.
But, with a 20 gallon tank, and 14 MPG, I could drive a fair piece. Of course, I also had to drive nearly a 100 miles a day to work, so I was filling up every other day! 🙄 Put 25K on it in one year. Yep, I am nuts.

Paladin, if this was the kid’s FIRST solo flight, his instructor is the one who was ultimately responsible, I think. I remember my first solo: after a set of touch-and-goes, my instructor told me to pull off to the side of the runway, got out and told me to make 3 circuits. Heart pounding, scared-nervous-exhilarated-and-thrilled all at the same time, I never once thought to check the fuel gauge. I remembered everything else, but never considered that.

I once checked the fuel, but forgot to turn the fuel ON. Started to taxi, the engine sputtered, died and there I sat for all the world to see. Mortally embarrassed. Found my mistake, fired it up again and wanted to fly away never to return to the snickering, snide comments that I was bound to face on return. 😳

Ok, you want to see a wild youtube clip??? As so often happens, I come across the most interesting stuff when I can’t find what I was looking for! I imagine it’s from the late 40’s/early 50s. Starts off slow, a weird harp guitar, then a crazy thrash banjo finish! 😯 Oh, and a women keeps lifting her skirt far too high while dancing. (Relax ladies, you don’t see anything, though I was for one was shocked, shocked!)

Good points CL, and I certainly wasn’t a Howard Hughes on my first solo. But, I don’t think it was his first solo. It was his first solo “cross-country”. And I certainly assign some of the fault to the instructor, that is why he needs some 2 X 4 instruction from a pro.

Paladin, I didn’t know it was the first solo cross country; that makes a BIG difference! In that case, YES, he IS at fault, though his instructor should follow-up behind him to be sure he did all the pre-flight. Until the student is signed off, the instructor is ultimately responsible. Lesson learned – for both, I’d wager! 🙂

CL, sorry about the accident!!! Did you mention that at some point on the other board???? The Accident I mean…it sounds familiar now…but, I sure didn’t know about you being a pilot!
One thing I really like about this board, is even with a fair number of posts a day….you can at least stand a chance of keeping up! The other place, so many posts in a day…and you read something interesting, what to comment, then the dopey Mutt fans post for 20 minutes, then someone under an assumed name, then another interesting post…by the time you got down to the end, you forget what you were going to post about in the first place!!!

Berigan; Back in my youth if you wanted to play the uke or tenor banjo, you would get Eddie Peobody’s book. BUT, if you want to hear a tenor banjo absolutely torn up!! at that same site–on the right–click on Maurice Bolyer and watch in awe!!

Back in the early 90’s, a friend of mine decided he wanted to learn to fly. He did all the lessons, etc., etc. and finally got to the stage where he had to fly solo. The plan was to fly from Airport A to Airport B and land, then take off and fly to Airport C and land, then fly home.

William was doing fine until he found himself having to fly above a pretty thick cloud of smoke from a forest fire. He got turned around and when he was past the smoke saw an airport which he believed to be Airport B. He landed and looked at the sign. Not Airport B! Anyway, he took off again and headed toward Airport C. Sometime during this leg of the trip (remember, he’s a lost student) he looked down and saw an airport which he believed to be one near Charleston. He was only off by 75 miles or so. Turns out that this airfield was a Marine Air Corps field on or near Parriss Island!!! They weren’t very happy with him and sent someone up to “escort” him away (Paladin, was that you?).

Now, BASEBALL!!! Will the “real” Hampton take the mound tonight? I was on record as saying that I thought he would be a big contributor this season. And I say he will give them at least 5 good innings tonight, and turn it over to the BP(Moylan?)with a lead. Any nay-sayers?

P-Diddy, my Uncle Mack got a war-surplus Piper Cub back in the 50’s as a present from my bootleggin’ grandpa; he used to take it up, chase flights of crows and shoot at them with a pistol. He’d periodically run out of gas and land it on whatever country road was nearby and just walk home. The cops always knew where to look. He wasn’t stupid, but he was a completely insane alcoholic who never had a flying lesson to my knowledge (he drank himself to death before I was born). Great storyteller, I hear. He was also in Korea and the only survivor of a unit that was completely wiped out but for him. Maybe that’s why he just didn’t give a $%#@.

Where’s Jimmy? Where’s Chop Seal? I’m starting to think Chop Seal took Jimmy hostage and is holding him in captivity because Chop Seal is mad Carolina Lady did not make Chop Seal a columnist to start the season.

Berigan…. Just so I don’t lose all credibility, the throw Blanco made was from the Center field fence to 2nd base bag… Now flying…. My arms get really tired from all that flapping….

Seriously… I really did not care for flying all that much, too many things to look out for, especially in this area. It’s why I stuck to boating. All of it is expensive so unless you have a lot of expendable cash you really have to pick and choose your hobbies.

This, from the man that just said…They’re, I guess. But then, I am and idiot. Sounds like something translated from english, to german, to french back to english again! 😛

It’s a countdown.. t minus 3, etc, etc….but, you had to ruin it by not telling WW to check his behind! 😦 On that note, I shall now go to sleep…wake me when the game starts will ya???? NNNNNNNN. I mean….zzzzzzzz

They are calling for a chance of rain today so there is a chance I won’t get to the opening of the R Braves season. Buddy Carlyle is slated to pitch. We shall see how it goes. Rochester is the Twins’ farm club. I will attempt a scouting report.

Just dropped in to say hey. You guys have been busy the last few days… so many posts it’ll take me a while to get through it all. I started at the top and must say, Berigan, very nice lead you done there. Funny stuff.

Nice win last night. Got back home just in time to see Tex’s home run, then Yunels own. Two in a row now…c’mon Mike, shake off the cobwebs and show your good stuff.

Paladin, just saw your above comment to Berigan… just know this Pal… if you get blamed for something you didn’t do, remember that you got away with stuff we didn’t even know about… so it evens out. 🙂

April 3, 2008 at 12:06 pm
“Where’s Jimmy? Where’s Chop Seal? I’m starting to think Chop Seal took Jimmy hostage and is holding him in captivity because Chop Seal is mad Carolina Lady did not make Chop Seal a columnist to start the season.”

Yes… Ted asserts that the planet has too many people, and that causes global warming. He also asserts that the population has outgrown the resources, and that by the middle of the century, half the planet’s population will be dead and the rest will be eating each other. Let’s see, he also says that CNN no longer covers real news, just light stuff delivered by attractive “chickies.” Add to that the whole patriot thing, and you have one nice little looney rant.

I like, too, where somwhere in the conversaton, he says he “always suffered from foot-in-mouth disease” but that he’s “gotten better. It’s been a ong time since anybody caught me saying something stupid.” Yeah… at least a couple of minutes…

I think Ted should take the lead and reduce his bison herds. As you know, some scientists think that bovine flatulence contributes to the green-house effect. Add Ted’s oral flatulence and the levels are becoming…oppressive.

As I said earlier, the meltdown of the Washington pitching staff has begun. I had hoped they would/could hold on here in the beginning and help the Braves’ cause, but I don’t think so. I think the OD is calling DIVE DIVE to the crew of US Washington.

ww, I don’t want to fight with you. But Hampton, like Smoltz, is a warrior. I’ll bet if it were left up to him, he would pitch. But, we don’t need him now. In Sept. and Oct. we will need him, and he WILL pitch!

I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but Hampton needs to hang the cleats up and start watching from home. Chuck James can at least pitch 5 innings every fifth day. Couldn’t even make it to the freakin’ mound without pulling an oblique; I’ve never seen the like.

Look back at my posts about Hampton over the last 2 1/2 years and you’ll see nobody supported him more. But this? This is just ridiculous. They need to just put him in a damn wheelchair and have done with it.

Too cold. TOO COLD? It’s 55 degrees! I was playing football out in the yard at school earlier with some friends…threw about 25 passes and got tackled a half dozen times and I’m the smae age as Hampton and a hundred pounds overweight. I didn’t get paid squat for my efforts; and he can’t throw a %$#^%&^ warm up pitch to Chino Cadahia for 50,000 bucks or whatever he makes per game without sniffling to the showers?

Paladin, it’s not like this is saving anyone; the bullpen’s pitched out already and doesn’t have a day off for another week and a half. The only one this is helping is hampton and it damn sure ain’t helping him with his fans.

This man is coming off serious injury and TRYING to give the Braves and us fans a return on their/our investment. Smoltz is starting the season on the DL because of a “twinge” and you don’t say a damn word. Give the guy(Hampton)a break!!

Is the plan to make COrky Miller Hampton’s deisgnated catcher? THat’s an awful idea. If there is gonna be a designated catcher, it should be with Hudson or Smoltz. It makes no sense to do it with a pitcher who most likely will give up a full run more than Smoltz and Hudson while producing less runs of offense than Hampton. Bobby is losing his marbles.

NO ONE is harder on players than I am for not playing hurt. But, Hampton has played hurt and always given his all on the mound. I can’t believe that two guys that I like and respect are on his ass about this!!

Paladin, I actually was pretty nasty about Smoltz. I didn’t like it at all that he thought he should be playing grabass with Tiger Woods and pitching simulated games and not preparing the right way for the season.

I’m not questioning Hampton’s desire, heart, grit or anything like that. But at some point you got to get yourself onto the field.

How would you like a wingman who wasn’t allowed to fly until all the circumstances in the sky and on the plane were just so?

ww; If I respected my wingman, as I do Hampton, and he didn’t feel he could do the job as it should be done, I would SUPPORT his decision, not to fly. Particularly, if it was a “milk run” like this game is. Now, if it were a “must” mission like Chipper sat out on in the Muts series last year, that would be different.

Smoltz is 41 years old, and through four elbow surgeries has still managed to give us a return on our investment pretty well I’d say; we all know he’d have won the Cy Young at least once if not twice in the last couple of years if there’d been a bullpen. And I DID say a word; I complained that his approach to Spring Training this year looked lackadaisical to me and I didn’t like it.

Look, I’ve been injured before; I’ve had two major and one minor surgeries on my left knee, a plate and screws in that ankle and twice broke a bone in that foot. I’ve spent months in a wheelchair and months more trying to learn how to walk again in a water tank; I know rehab it isn’t easy and it isn’t fun. I also know you EVENYUALLY WITH ENOUGH HARD WORK either get to a point where you can still play or you can’t. I can’t play well enough for money anymore, and if my orthopedic surgeon or my chiropractor saw me smashing into the asphalt earlier they would’ve screamed, but then I’m not hijacking a major city’s team, either, by acting like it isn’t over yet when it sure appears to be.

Look, I’m just having a bad day and taking it out on Hampton. I still like and respect him; I’d just gone through a bunch of crap and came here with the steaks and beer looking forward to seeing him work again tonight. He’s probably my favorite Braves pitcher, and I’m just giving him some tough love. Fuggedduboudit.

WW, and I just was thinking Bennett has been injured, and missed a lot of time….let’s not burn him out in April either! We carry one more relief pitcher than a lot of teams(Well, I need to double check that, but even AL teams that have the DH will carry a 5th outfielder as well) No need to use every one, every night….
Tooting my own horn a bit…I am pretty sure that I mentioned on my first lead blog that with Hampton, Smoltz, Glavine, and Jurrjens, we have 4 guys who need to be on pitch counts. Glavine tossed 97 in 5 innings the other day. We are going to use our bullpen like crazy. Need to be smart about it.
I was really looking forward to seeing Hampton, and I bet he is really bummed to not be out there….I slept in late…so gotta shower and grab dinner….nothing in the house.

Grinch; I will compare surgeries and pins with you anytime; and, another time, I’ll tell you about the times I flew with dysentery so bad that I crapped my pants before I taxied out of the chocks, but it apparently wouldn’t do any good. The decision has been made. Live with it.

Paladin, I knew that was gonna happen. For the record, I wasn’t trying to play the violin for myself and I certainly wasn’t trying to compare injuries with you, you old fart. 🙂 I was comparing injuries with Hampton, and factoring in some of my back problems as well I’d say mine were a fair amount worse, we’re the same age, and I still answer the bell for free when teams get picked. I’m sure there are at least a half dozen people on this blog a hell of a lot worse off in the injury dept. than me.

And I’m also sure Hampton’s a lot tougher than he comes off; I’ve always said so. I just decided to vent 6 or 7 frustrations at once and use him as a target.

That was one bizarre game. Hampton injury. Cox lost his book. We were up against a bad umpire and evidently a bunch of Cy Young Pirate pitchers at Candlestick Park. Braves are getting manhandled by Pirates and off to a slow, under achieving start. The bully is getting worn. Poor series by Braves.

Gee, next time I want to give a boost to the blog I’l just say I’m hitting the showers. Now I can’t sleep because y’all were talking so loud. Next time I want a pitcher to do well I’ll trade him to another team. OK… just griping.

Slow start. Weird schedule. Braves’ll kick it in gear soon. Not sure if I like it when Bobby loses his playbook and pulls a pitcher to place in left then back to mound thing unless said pitcher is doing well. Not that I like it when he depends on it either. Kotsay almost tied it with that long triple. Game of feet. OK… just griping.

Wow…. What a day oh for three… Washington blow a big lead… Richmond gets blown out and the Braves waste a decent effort by Bennett. To top it all off, Hampton does not even make to the starting gate….. Okay, that makes four.

I did get top meet Carroll Rogers today at the Diamond. She seems a nice enough person despite her being a reporter.

CL… I will try to come up with something by the weekend. I will ingest some happy pills because my mood is not one that would produce a positive post.

Kinda sorta….had to talk to a friend who had a quick tax question(First year for him with a small business) and I have to call another friend back….I’ll be free to talk when you will no doubt be sound asleep!

I have searched the world looking for answers and it was right here in Richmond the entire time. Finally, sometime the populace of Richmond, especially those in charge of the city government can identify with.

Richmond has an abundance of potential home grown players and a sport which they have embraced.

I see where ww went across the street last night and put on his other hat, and persona. I don’t know whether his desire to “debate” with intelligent giants like “Joebrave”, “Bobby’s Cox”, “Deep Throat”, “Coach”, “Debra” et al speaks to him, or us. 😯

Since Hampton didn’t make it into the game, he can then go on the disabled list retroactively, correct???? Just sayin’ if Chucky got lit up…sounds like Jo-Jo is coming up only as bullpen help??? Will he be this year’s Joey Divine????
Oh, and Brian Giles was wrong about his brother reconsidering going back to the Dodgers…..sigh….why did I bother to post the story of him going back to the Dodgers ??? Marcus must have some issues if his own brother doesn’t know what his plans are!

Drive by blog: (and I have not had a chance to catch up since yesterday afternoon)

I know I’ll get slammed for this, but I applaude BC for the bold move he made last night. Ring has been LaRoche’s “personal pitcher” for the whole series and has handled him well. The move saved Moylan from making an appearance. It actually worked from the standpoint that Ring K’d LaRoche. Had Resop gotten the 3rd out, we’d all be marveling at BC’s creativity.

Don’t panic. Judging a 162 game season by the 1st 4 games is like trying to use 100 years of recorded temperatures to gauge billions of years of climate change. Wait… there are people who do that… 😀

Berigan; Since I am apparently the only other one on here, I’m not ignoring you. Firstly, I don’t know that much about retroactive dl list. But secondly, it is good for us that Giles is not still a Brave. BC would be batting him at cleanup and telling us that was the only way to let him work his way out of his slump.

VOR, I heard it on the radio, and Skip and Pete said it was a pretty slick move. And I have to agree! You are right, if it had worked, we’d be saying, Bobby Cox is a genius! I’m just glad to see outside the lines thinking from Bobby.

Paladin, you are so right(For once! ) Bobby would have Giles batting 3-4 in the lineup if he was still around. I was WAY wrong on keeping him. It just was at the time we were being cheap about everything(Darryl Ward anyone?) It was just frustrating…..

The old “switcherino”(put a pitcher in a “player” position so that you can bring him back in)has been a part of baseball since Hector was a pup. It has worked, and it has failed. But, BC prides himself on being a “book” manager, and it ain’t book! Besides, if he had done a better job of handling his BP in the other games, it would not have been necessary.

Hey, Salty… I am running out the door, but I wanted to mention that my band is playing in Kennesaw tomorrow night. If you’re interested, go to http://www.myspace/rockofchristband and check out the schedule. Or you can email me. I’ll be back tonight, gang…

Now Terrence Moore’s got a column out: “The Braves’ only weakness is their bullpen.” At the moment, that’s their only strength, though it will soon become a weakness through overuse.

Quite honestly, y’all, has any reputable newspaper in the history of the country ever had a sportswriter who knew less about sports of any kind than Terrence Moore? It’s not just that he’s a cowardly, inflamatory racist; he really just doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. I read him and Shultz and Bisher and Bradley and I’d say Moore writes a senible, informed column about 1 in 6 and they’re usually about whatever everyone else already knows. Yet he’s the only one of our writers who gets national exposure because he’s a racist. Typical Atlanta nonsense.

Grinch; Moore is a racist and everyone knows he is. But, that is precisely why the AJC couldn’t get rid of him, even if they wanted to. He would successfully, sue the hell out of them. In the meantime, he remains sports journalism’s Affirmative Action poster child.

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.(Hardly seems worth it.) I’ve known women, uh, people…never mind…not worth the doghouse merely for a lame chuckle! 😳

If you farted, uh…broke wind consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.(Now that’s more like it!) Hmmm…:? could that explain global warming?

No way tonight…a good three hours of storms are moving into the area now. Tomorrow will even be dicey, if it sticks around until early afternoon as forecast. Of course, it is a forecast! And I have tickets to the game tomorrow. Anyone else going…weather permitting?

You are right, Salty. I just went to the regional and national radar and the tail-end of this stuff is out in Tx. And, AAMOF, y’all could be in for some batten down the hatches wx. Keep your head down.

Ya’ll take cover and be safe. I think CL got pounded by a storm earlier today. I am trying to decide if there is time for me to do something useful outside or not. If I wait long enough, the decision may be made for me.

Salty, is that factoid where the expression “You can put lipstick on a pig”.. originated from. Is it legal for the pig to have intercourse with itself?

Not sure about the brain but I have been known to have eyes bigger than my stomach… 🙂

I have just watched the annual deification of MLK. Meanwhile, Jefferson, Lee, and hell, even Clinton are among famous and notable Americans that just get their negatives emphasized. Some one asked what would have happened if MLK had lived? I think he would have been exposed as the womanizer, and worse, that he was. Sorry, I know I am about to have the hounds of hell after me. Well, bring ’em on!

It’s beautiful. I just logged on and thought I hit a different blog. 4-star stuff.

Very impressive masthead design CL. Looks like we’re in the bigs now! By the way… I also happened to notice which Brave was a little bigger than the rest and just happened to layout front and center. 😀 🙂